The Securities and Exchange Commission hasn't effectively implemented IT controls to protect the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of its financial and sensitive data, congressional auditors find.

SunGard Data Systems is discussing a potential sale of the company to a group of private equity investors. Industry sources predict the potential buyers will sell off pieces of the financial software and services conglomerate.

Wall Street IT executives tend to get more money to experiment with emerging technology than those in many other industries, and they've been among the leaders in adopting the Linux operating system, grid computing, and services-oriented architectures.

Am I nuts, or are today's patent litigation issues totally out of control? Since when does our industry allow technology vendors to take out method patents that curtail innovation and hold both firms and the global financial markets hostage?

A recent survey by Chicago-based financial services firm Northern Trust reveals that, while baby boomers are planning for retirement, many are doing the planning without the assistance of professional advisers.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is getting a face-lift, and technology is playing a central role in its transformation. According to a recent report by Needham, Mass.-based TowerGroup, the SEC IT budget for 2005 -- $113 million -- is 2.5 times that for 2002.

All eyes are on the industry's first electronic options exchange as other exchanges ponder going public. In an interesting twist, the ISE chose to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange, a floor-based market.